USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 10
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As has been already stated Mr. Bellamy had been laboring in the adjoining parish of Wallingford, and being only from eight to ten miles distant from a large portion of the church, the excitement there attracted many to it. It is said' that Mr. Curtiss was urged to invite Mr. Bellamy here, but he stoutly refused. No doubt he was very con- scientions, for all accounts of him agree as to his simple and sincere
1 This tradition has come down through the family of Dea. Timothy Clark.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
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manner. It is to be regretted that we have no documentary history of the trouble. The traditions on either side must necessarily be tinct- ured with much of personal feeling.1
The excitement that followed the preaching of Mr. Robbins of Bran- ford, at Wallingford, had its effect here, and served to keep up the feeling. As a result of this discord, the church suffered. The records show a decline in the number of admissions to the church, after 1741.
June 3, 1746, the Hartford North Association held another im- portant meeting. Sixteen members were present; the same number as in 1741, and in both cases the largest number that ever attended. Mr. Curtis was on hand. I quote from the records-
" The Northwest society in Symsbury applying to this association for their advice and assistance in examining and ordaining to ye work of ye Gospel ministry m' David Rowland in sª society, the association Resolved, That ye Revª messrs Samuel Whitman, Jonathan Marsh, Benjamin Colton, Stephen Stele, Jeremiah Curtiss, Elnathan Whitman, and Daniel Wadsworth be a Comitte of this association to examine ye sª m" Rowland previous to his being ordained and it is farther Re. solved that ye sd comttee with Respect to ye sd mr Rowland see to it that ye sd mr Rowland. 1, own and approve the Confession of faith Received in these churches. 2, that he approve and submit to the Ecclesiastical Constitution Established in the churches of Connecticutt. 3, that ye sª Rowland will not countenance and encourage m' Whitfield by Inviting him to preach or attending his administrations or any other Itinerant Preachers or any other of the Errors, Separations or Disorders prevail- ing in ye Country."
It seems that this Mr. Rowland could not, or at least did not, pass the , ordeal. In August2 following however he was approbated by the Fair- field East Association. He subsequently labored in Windham Co.3 and afterwards appears on the records of Hartford North Association as from Windsor.
It should be also noted that in Feb., 1744-5, some special action had been taken, for in connection with the minutes of the meeting held at Windsor is this note-" The association's testimony against m" Whitfield is on file." What that testimony was, can be easily guessed, although the document is lost.
At a meeting of the Association held in Hartford, June 7, 1748, the following questions were put and answered:
1 Deacon George Pratt remembers how bitterly his grandfather spoke of Mr. Whit- field. Others recall a like degree of bitterness toward the whole revival movement, as indicated by the words of their ancestors.
, 2 Ang. 12, 1746. The committee that examined him consisted of Anthony Stod- dard, John Graham, Joseph Bellamy, Thomas Canfield, and Reuben Judd.
3 See Miss Larned's History of Windham Co., pp. 452-57.
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IIISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
"I. Quest: whether a member of a church calling the ministers of this land, Hirelings, greedy dogs, unfaithful, together with other ex- pressions of the like nature, be not an offense for which he ought to be called to an account in that church to which he belongs?
Resolved in the affirmative."
"2. Quest: whether if a member of a church invites and encourages from time to time those called Separate or lay Preachers to hold meet- ings at his house, it be not proper for the church to bear a testimony against it. Resolved in the affirmative."
These proceedings of the Associations have been quoted at length, because they reflect the sentiments of Mr. Curtiss, and throw light upon the troubles that arose in this church during the latter half of his min- istry. He was from principle opposed to Whitfield and Bellamy. That which he believed to be distinctive in their methods, his judg- ment without reserve condemned. And when established in a convic- tion he was immovable. He said nothing to conciliate, nor did he hesitate to impress his views upon the people. His mind once made up, led him into a line of conduct from which he would never retreat. And no doubt this persistency without any effort to conciliate, was one of his chief infirmities.
We must now go back a few years in the history to trace more ac- curately the relations of Mr. Curtiss to his society and church. There were meetings held by both at which there were excitements and di- visions. The majority in every case seems to have been against the pastor, although at times it was a bare majority. During the year 1742 it was an uninterrupted struggle of parties. Mr. Curtiss1 and the minority were safe in their position for the Association supported them, and it would have been difficult to call a council that would not have . sustained Mr. Curtiss. The revival party, under the lead of such a man as Deacon Thomas Hart, had desired the pastor to resign if he would not in some other way meet the wishes of the majority. The three men who sustained Mr. Curtiss, were Robert Cook, John Webster, and Samuel Root, all of whom had been his warm friends when he was set- tled. It seems that meetings had been held December 6, 1742, and December 21st, to which exceptions were taken, on the ground of irregularity, by the minority.
The minority felt quite safe in appealing to the General Assembly for relief in any emergency, for that body was in no mood to show much mercy to those favoring the new measures.
1 While revising these sheets for the press, I learn that the papers of Mr. Curtiss concerning this controversy fell into the hands of the family of his second wife. They were read by his sons in whose families are perpetuated many of the facts of the caso. I have tried to secure these papers, but in vain. I have conversed with those whose parents were familiar with their contents.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
The following memorials' need no explanation.
"To ye Honble Gen" Assembly of his Majesties Colony of Connecti- cut now setting at Hartford this 19th Day of May a Dom 1743, The memorial of John Webster, Samuel Root, Robert Cook & sundry others Inhabitants of ye Parish of Southington of Farmington in Hart- ford County in number of the major part of ye Inhabitants of sd Parish Humbly sheweth-That on ye 6th of December last in sd Parish was holden a society meeting wh was & had been warned by only proclaim- ing at ye Head of a trainband only in gen" terms that Such Meeting was to be on that Day without in anywise signifying anything specially at or by sd meeting intended or expected to [be] acted.
That there then being in sª Parish sundry persons much disaffected toward ye Rev Mr Curtiss minister whose number & ye sentiments of many of whom were not so well known till 2nd meeting & who as it should seem on preconcerted contrivance to effect their designs were unanimously convened in such number as to make a majority in sd meeting, many of sd inhabitants of different sentiments not suspecting anything uncommon about to be acted there, being absent, whose pres- ence would have made a considerable majority of ye whole Parrish & would undoubtedly have prevented ye strange proceedings of sª meet- ing. That accordingly at sd meeting it was by their major Part voted & declared that they were uneasy with m' Curtiss administration and that Capt Thomas Hart & others be a Committee to treat with him respecting his resigning his pastoral charge-& having in design to obtain a Council to hear and consider ye causes of their grievance, ye sa Disaffected persons at a society meeting in sd Parrish holden by ad- journment on ye 21 of ye same December did (by ye help of some who were children under age & as we suppose servants) making a small majority further voted & declared yt if sd m' Curtiss should ye Council be Dismissed & should Discharge ye sd society from further charge, that in such case they would give him Two Hundred pounds &c, & would pay ye charge of ye Council, from we doings of sd meetings many of us your honors memorialists Dissented & accordingly to ye number of about forty then entered our Protest against their sd vote and Do- ings, and withdrew & absented ourselves from sd meeting so that they thereupon adjourning to ye next day met and agreed that there should be a Rate Containing aforesaid sum of £200 & ye charge of ye Council as soon as & in case m' Curtiss should be Dismissed, & appointed one Sam1 Andrus their collector to collect ye same as in ye records of sd so- ciety doth appear &-That ye 8th of April now last past ye sd Collector by virtue of a certain precept of ye Date signed Thomas Hart Justice of ye peace Did demand of & Distrain from your memorialists Sundry
1 Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. VIII.
12
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
sums of money we were annexed to their respective names as inserted in a certain list to sd distress annexed. Whereupon your Honor Me- morialists beg leave to observe that though in & by sd was signified there should be a Rate layed yet they did in fact never lay any such, but either ye sd Justice or Collector or somebody else without any au- thority did draw up & from ye said list to 2nd District annexed-& be- ing Humbly of opinion that all these new & extraordinary proceedings of sd meetings warned & convened as aforesd and of sd Distress are un- reasonable & urgent & being attended with such circumstances as to render it extremely Difficult & Burthensome if not altogether imprac- ticable to be redrest in course of law, we humbly beg your Honours interposition in ye premises, viz, that your honour would inhibit sª Col- lector further to act upon or to execute this sd precept, & also order him to return ye several sums thereby taken, & allso yt in addition to ye Laws heretofore made respecting warnings society or other meet- ings it shall be enacted to be Duty of such as give ye warning therein especially to signify & make mention of all such new, extraordinary or uncommon business as is expected & intended to be transacted ** that ye future no person shall presume to vote in any society meeting for the choice of society officers, grants of Rates, erecting of meeting Houses, regulating schools or any other thing proper to be voted in a Society unless such person or persons have a Freehold in ye same so- ciety Rated at 508 or 40€ in ye common list, or are persons that are in communion with ye church &c
and whereas it sometimes so happens yt in society a considerable proportion of ye inhabitants in communion with ye church are children & servants who have neither Discretion to judge, nor estate to con- tribute to & support ye charge we in consequence of many of their acts- & votes may be occupied to, such society &c & these & other reasons easily thought of, may it please your honours to enact that ye said act so far as it seems to make meer church communion a qualification to vote in such meetings be repealed.
Dated at Hartford, 19th Day of May Anne Dom 1743
(The above granted)
JOHN WEBSTER SAM'L ROOT, ROBERT COOK, &c &c
" Upon ye memorial of John Webster Samuel Root Robert Cook & sundry others inhabitants of ye Parrish of Southington in ye town of Farmington in Hartford County representing that at a meeting of (the Society) warned only in general terins without signifying anything un common or extraordinary to be acted or done, holden at sd Parrish in ye 6th of Dec. last, & by sundry adjournments on ye 218 & 22 of sª De- cember among other things new and unexpected it was voted that
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
after and soon as the Council (they proposed to have there on ye oc- casion) should Dismiss m' Curtiss their minister in such case there should be a Rate to pay him 200£ and to pay ye charge of sª Council; That such Dismission never happening-yet one Samuel Andrus of sd Parrish being at sª meeting chosen collector by virtue of a certain Dis- tress signed by Thomas Hart Justice of the peace-did Distrain of ye memorialists among others of sd Inhabitants sundry sums of money we were particularly annexed to their Respective names inserted in a certain list without authority made & to sd Distress annexed: & pray- ing ye sª Collector be inhibited further to execute sª Distress & Di- rected to return ye moneys by virtue thereof taken as by their me- morial on file Dated May 19, 1743."
(Granted May 1743)
The following remonstrance explains itself. The Mr. Edwards spoken of is probably the Rev. Timothy Edwards of Windsor, and a per- sonal friend of Mr. Curtiss.
" And Sam" Newell one of the Society in the Parrish of Southing- ton comes & by his attorney Thos Seymour prays Judgm' of the Honor- able Assembly, the within memorial should abate be Dismissed.
1. because he says yt it very much affects ye sª society if sª me- morial should be granted & therefore they ought to have been cited but were not.
2. because the sª memorial does not come signed by any one of the memorialists but that the names affixed were Done by m' Edwards only.
3 Because it is not known who they are that are said to be ye ma- jor part of sª society called memorialists-there being only three names subscribed.
4. because they have not shown that yt Rate made now in the hands of the Collector was made in pursuance of the votes yt are re- cited in ye memorial.
5. because they have suggested y' Doings of sª society were accord- ing to Laws & now pray yt one Law may be enacted & another re- pealed to help them in this case we y' honours will think as extraor- dinary step as ye doings complained of &c
THOS SEYMOUR, for Newell
(May 1743)
A year later the following memorial was sent in reciting still further the difficulties of the society.
To ye Honourable ye Gen" Assembly of ye Colony of Connecticut at Hartford in Hartford county to be convened & holden on ye second Thursday of May Instant, the Memorial of James Beckwith Edward
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
Neal Stephen Buck & John Webster of ye Parish of Southington in the town of Farmington in sd county & ye rest of us the Subscribers being all Inhabitants of said Parrish Humbly showeth that your hon- ours in your Sessions at Hartford in May last Reciting that sª John Webster & others your memorialists had Represented that a meeting of sª Society warned only in General Terms without signifying any- thing uncommon or extraordinary to be acted or done holden at said Parrish on ye Sixth of December among other things new & unexpected it was voted that after as soon as ye Council they proposed to have there on that occasion should dismiss m' Curtiss their minister in such case there should be a Rate to pay him £200 & to pay ye charge of such Council.
That such Dismission never happening yet one Samuel Andrus of said Parrish being at sd meeting chosen Collector by vertue of a Dis- tress signed by Thomas Hart Justice of ye peace did Distrain of ye memorialists among others of sd Inhabitants sundry sums of money which were particularly annexed to their respective names in incerted in a certain list without authority made & to ye Distress annexed & praying the sª Collector be inhibited further to execute sd Distress & to return ye sd money by vertue thereof taken Did thereupon Resolve yt ye said Collector should be & he ye sd Collector then was by your honours especially Inhibited & forbidden further to proceed on sd acts or precept & also ordered & Directed to return the several sums of money by sª Distress taken as by ye acts & Resolves of your Honours sª sessions in May last on Record doth appear.
That as your honours memorialists had not reasonable warning to at- tend or notice of ye business above sd -- or any thing of ye like nature about to be done at sd meeting so they did immediatly on their observ- ing or by any means whatsoever being informed of said proceedings, In fact openly protest against ye same & such their Protestation in writing under their own proper hands or their names put thereto by the clerk at their Desire together with sundry others to ye number of about forty subscribed at sd meeting exhibited & ye same on ye Records of sª society procured to be entered.
That at a meeting of sundry of ye Inhabitants of sª Parrish or society of Southington in sª Parrish convened & holden on ye sd day of Decein- ber 1743 being warned only in general Form (without intimation of anything unusual to be transacted) as ye sd former meeting in Decem- ber 1742 had been. It was then voted at sd meeting in December now last Granted that a Rate should be forthwith made sufficient to pay the charge of entertaining the Council above referred to & the charge of whose entertainment had been forbidden to be collected as aforesaid, & Jonathan Root of sª Parrish was also chosen & appointed Collector to
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
collect ye same who accordingly by vertue of one certain warrant or Distress dated ye 20th of last December signed by John Hooker Justice of the peace in usual form Issued & to sd Jonathan Root Directed your memorialists are again (as they apprehend unjustly, compelled to pay & answer the said charges without Right or reason occasioned as aforest which amounts to a large sum, to which Doings of sa last meeting some of your memorialists being absent were not privy others though present either actually ye same protested or at least non-concurred & your memo- rialists being remediless in ye premises by common course of Law Hum- bly beg your Honours protection & Just & Gracious Interposition for their Relief & that your honours would in some form propper to yt purpose en- nact especially that your memorialists with others protesting as aforesd be ever freed & discharged from sd unreasonable assessment & that it be prohibited to sd last named Collector or any other to this end to be appointed further of your memorialists to Distrain & assess that they be absolved by action of Debt or otherwise to recover back such sum or sums of money as have been so already taken, or yt your honours would in some other manner in your honours great wisdom more ex- pedient grant Relief in the Premises & we are Duty Bound &c.
Dated Southington 9th Day of May A Domine 1744
JOHN WEBSTER
JAMES BECKWITH
ROBERT COOK
ABRAM GILLET
BENONI ADKINS
ABRAHAM CLARK
THIOS. RICHARDS
JAMES BECKWITH JR.
DANIEL WOODRUFF
EDWARD NEAL
JONATHAN HURLBURT
WILLIAM NEAL
HAWKINS HART
JONATHAN BROWNSON
JOSEPH OLMSTEAD
STEPHEN BUCK
JOHN WOODRUFF
STEPHEN BUCK (JR)
DAVID B. WOODRUFF
JOHN ROOT
HEZEKIAH WOODRUFF
JOHN ROOT JR. IIis JOSEPH X CONGREL (Coggs- mark. well)
AARON WEBSTER
His
NATH X GRIDLEY mark.
To ye Sheriff of ye County of Hartford or his Deputy or to either of ye Constables of Farmington within sd County-you are hereby re- quired in his Majestys name to make Ensign Jared Lee and Joseph Lankton and Lieut Zena Smith &c all inhabitants of sd Parish in Southernton in sd Farmington and ye rest of the Inhabitants of sa Parish (enclusive of ye memorialists) to know yt they should be before the General Assembly at Hartford in sd County to be holden on ye second Thursday of May Instant viz that they appear before said As-
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
sembly on ye next Thursday after sd second Thursday of May to show Reason if any they have wherefore the Prayer of ye memorial on this sheet of paper written should not be granted. And you are to leave a True and attested copy of sd memorial and this Citation with ye clerk of sd Parish or with some other principle Inhabitant of sª Parish at least six days before the sd Thursday next following the second Thurs- day-hereof fail you not and of this writ and memorial with your Doings therein make due return to sd General Assembly according to law.
Dated seventh Day of May Anno Domini 1744 NATHEL STANLEY
In ye Lower House it was put whether ye Pleas offered in Barr of this Petition are sufficient to barr ye same. Passed in ye affirmative."
But another source of trouble arose about 1745-8, which was doubt- less increased by the state of feeling upon the revival question. It had become apparent that the old meeting house must be thoroughly re- paired and improved for the comfort of the congregation. With this, came the question of a new building, and there also arose the question of a change of site. There was protracted and excited discussions upon these matters. The larger part of the society was from three to four miles to the south, and it was thought by many, that in case of a new building, it should be in a more central location. Others, particu- larly the north part of the society, desired the site to remain where it was.
In 1752, Jared Lee deeded to the society an acre and more of land, at what is now the center of the town; but such were the contentions, that the new house was not completed until 1757. How far Mr. Cur- tiss was drawn into this controversy we have no means of knowing. But his naturally quiet and conservative spirit, probably kept him from an active participation in the difficulty. But the preceding troubles, followed so closely by this, had so divided the people that it was deemed expedient to refer the whole matter to the Association.
At a meeting held Oct. 7, 1755, the church and society appeared before the Association, represented by the pastor and Jared Lee. The record* reads, "The Rev. m' Jeremiah Curtiss of Southington, and Deacon Jared Lee a Committee man from the Church and Society of sd Southington, having applied to this Association for Advice under their divided Circumstances,-This Association having heard what the sd m' Curtiss and Deacon J. Lee had to say respecting their difficulties, were of Opinion that sd Pastor and Church call the North Consociation of Hartford County to reconsider their Circumstances, and judge and determine the Matter that may be laid before them."
1 Hartford North Assoc. Record, p. 53.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
This advice was accepted, and the Consociation was called together. This body dissolved the pastoral relation. The date of the meeting is unknown, as the Consociation minutes are lost, and the church records are silent, but it was in November,' and it is a tradition that Mr. Chapman for the first time preached here in December.
Thus terminated the first ministry of this church.
Mr. Curtiss continued to reside here, and attended the church under the ministry of his successors until his death, which occurred March 21, 1795.
The following is the inscription upon his tomb stone-
This monument is Erected in Memory of the REV JEREMIAH CURTISS. He early devoted himself to the Gospel Ministry.
He was settled Nov. 1728, in the 23d year of his age, and continued in that work till he was regularly dismissed Nov. 1754. Integrity meekness and humility were conspicuous and acknowledged parts of his character both in public and private life. He died March 21, 1795 in the 89th year of his age.
The memory of the just is blessed.
The estate of Mr. Curtiss was settled by his son Samuel as executor, and was inventoried at £499 10s. 7d. His debts were £44 13s. 7d, The distributors of the estate among the heirs were Timothy Clark. Timothy Lee, and Enos Clark. His homestead was assigned to his son John. Besides this property Mr. Curtiss had a life interest in real estate that belonged to his first wife, Hannah Burnham, and this es- tate was distributed to the children at the same time with his own.
There is some difficulty in estimating the character of Mr. Curtiss. Absolutely nothing has been written concerning him by his contem- poraries. Mr. Robinson esteemed him as a man of good attainments, but Mr. Curtiss having been retired from active pulpit labors for so long a time he could not furnish in his later years any evidence of his ability in this direction. The impression that has come down to us, is, that he had good average abilities, considerable culture as a scholar, and very substantial qualities. He was intensely conscientious. This appears in every glimpse we get of his life. Not a stain of any kind rests upon his memory. Although involved in two or three cases of litigation where questions could be raised as to his integrity nothing
1 So stated on his tomb stone.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
affecting his character was ever sustained. The Consociation that dis- solved the pastoral relation' complimented him highly for the dignity and consistency that he had exhibited in all his troubles.
The question of "singing," a question prolific of woes to churches, was a disturbing element during his ministry and was one of the last troubles with which he had to contend. But this will be noticed in another place.
During the pastorate of Mr. Curtiss two hundred and thirty-five were received on profession of their faith, into the church. Consider- ing the population of the town, and the various troubles that prevailed, this is a very successful ministry.
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